Samuel finds positives, negatives in opening loss

The score of Thursday's season opener at Cincinnati indicated that Southeast Missouri State was simply no match for the Bearcats.

And while the 59-3 loss to the Division I-A team was certainly decisive, Southeast coach Tony Samuel came away with several positive impressions about his squad.

Perhaps highest on his list was that he thought the Redhawks never backed down, despite having a roster filled with so many new players and only nine seniors.

Eight players on offense and eight more on defense made the first starts of their Southeast careers against Cincinnati, which went 8-5 last year and won a bowl game.

"We didn't seem intimidated out there. I thought our kids played hard, competed. That's a good start," Samuel said Tuesday during his weekly media briefing.

In the end, however, the Redhawks simply made too many mistakes to even keep the score respectable against the heavily favored Bearcats, who led just 19-3 at halftime.

Southeast had six turnovers -- four lost fumbles and two interceptions -- and committed 15 penalties. The Redhawks' defense also missed numerous tackles.

"Too many mistakes, too many turnovers, too many mental mistakes to compete at that level," Samuel said. "We have to tackle better ... not taking proper angles. We have to clean up in a hurry."

The Redhawks' defense allowed a whopping 615 yards, but three of Cincinnati's second-half touchdowns were basically handed to the Bearcats after Southeast turnovers.

"We hung in there," said Samuel of the defense. "We were put in some tough situations in the second half that may have skewed the score."

Added Samuel of his squad in general: "We have a lot of work to do."

As Samuel promised, Southeast played plenty of people at Cincinnati, especially in the second half after the score got out of hand. Several true freshmen saw action.

"We played just about every kid who traveled," Samuel said. "We did play an awful lot of people."

Samuel said that trend will continue this week as the Redhawks open their home schedule Saturday night against Division II Southwest Baptist.

"We still want to play a lot of people," Samuel said. "To play championship-caliber ball, you have to have depth."

Southwest Baptist went just 1-10 last year, when it was outscored 477-260.

But Samuel said the Bearcats are much improved, and they appear especially dangerous offensively.

The Bearcats piled up 519 yards of offense in their season opener, a 43-40 loss at Harding (Ark.). Freshman quarterback Steve Gachette completed 40 of 61 passes for 379 yards and four touchdowns.

Anderson will start

As expected, Samuel said Victor Anderson will start at quarterback against Southwest Baptist, with Houston Lillard also seeing action.

The juniors shared time at Cincinnati as they made their first Southeast appearances.

Anderson was named the Ohio Valley Conference newcomer of the week after he rushed for 118 yards on 13 carries in the opener. He added 59 yards passing, completing eight of 16 attempts.

"We'll start Victor, but we'll play two quarterbacks," Samuel said. "I think it's important to do that."

Kudos to Appalachian St.

Samuel said he was especially pleased by Division I-AA Appalachian State's stunning upset of Division I-A power Michigan on Saturday because he knows Mountaineers coach Jerry Moore well.

Moore was an assistant at Nebraska when Samuel played for the Cornhuskers in the mid-1970s.

"That's the talk of the country right now," Samuel said. "I couldn't be more proud."

Injury update

Two backups were injured against Cincinnati. Rover Antoine Chillers (leg) and defensive end Brian Turner (knee) will be out indefinitely.

Linebacker Joshua Jackson (foot), who made several starts last year, and backup offensive lineman Matt Paris (leg) missed the Cincinnati game with injuries and are doubtful this week.

Kicker Colin Schermann remains sidelined after suffering a skull fracture during a fall off a ladder prior to the start of preseason practice.